Thinning a thick ?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Thomas Erickson

I've wondered from time to time - with graphite in the neck, what happens when the bass takes a hit that otherwise would have broken the neck? What's the next-in-line for destruction?

As for thinning a neck - I think it's most often done when people think a smaller neck will somehow be easier to play or more suitable for a small person. IMO in most cases it's just a technique issue and the instrument is the scapegoat.

A bass neck usually breaks at its weakest point. That would be just under the scroll at the end of the fingerboard for the most part. Graphite wont help as it's IN the neck and not at the break point.

On thin necks, we have to look at playing the bass and not gripping it like a bat. Thinner necks are weaker. They bend forward from the string pull and pull the fingerboard with it creating the effect of extra camber under the strings when in fact it's really a weak neck. Extra camber makes the string tension feel tighter and harder to play. In this case, a stronger and thicker neck would be easier to play because it bends less and holds its intended camber better. The graphite allows you to have a normal thicknesses neck but stiffer in resistance. Remember, to put graphite in, you have to take wood out.

I started putting graphite in the Smith basses in 1980. Having played thousands of thinner/longer/weaker Electric basses in my shop with graphite inlaid neck I can tell you what it does. We/I also have a special technique of putting it in which I cannot share. Also, our rods are custom
made to order and not off the shelf of from a catalog.

Graphite CF will help a well made neck. In our usage, it is not intended to correct bad neck, only improve a good one.